Winter Sportives Proving Popular

Posted Thursday 23rd January 2014 –

Monthly sportive rides organised by Velo Events and sponsored by Performance Cycles throughout the winter are so busy they have had to change venues. The monthly Winter Mini-Sportive organised by Velo Events and has had to move the venue for the start point of these organised training rides to accommodate the growing numbers of cyclists that have gone from below 100 to almost 150 riders since November – with 175 expected in February and March.

The Mini-Sportives have been running for the past three years and the format is designed to be simple, cheap and less intense than the more formal summer events. There is no electronic timing or feed stations, but whilst the routes are well signposted they are not as punishing as cyclists aim for in the summer months. Instead the Mini-Sportives are good winter training rides, in a well organised group at a reasonable pace with mechanical back-up, free energy products for each rider and food and drink at the finish.

“Despite the weather, everyone wants to be out on their bike in the winter and it’s far easier to brave the cold, wet or ice when you’re in good company and have a well planned route with full support. That’s the whole point of our Mini-Sportives and it’s why they are growing in popularity all of the time,” says Andrew Kirk, managing director of Performance Cycles.

“We want to get as many people cycling for the pure joy of being on a bike as we can. More and more people are signing up for our rides because they are informal, but well organised with the reassurance of mechanical support, hot food and drink and even a shower at the end. Judging by the big increase in numbers this winter I think we’ve hit upon the right formula! It’s the perfect way to clock up those much needed winter miles.”
Performance Cycles has increased the rider limit from 100 riders to 175 for the next Mini-Sportive in February and March.

For more details visit: http://www.performancecycles.co.uk/mini/. The rides will start at 9am (with registration from 8.30am) with the aim of returning by just after lunch / early afternoon.

The new starting point is Waterland Outdoor Pursuits at Lake 32 of the Cotswold Water Park not far from Cirencester. Details of how to get there can be found on the Waterland website: http://www.ukwatersports.co.uk/map.htm.